Apparatus for manufacturing water-gas.



No; 892,548. I PATENTED JULY 7, 1908 P..PLANTINGA. APPARATUS FOR MANUFAOTURING WATER GAS.

APPLIOATION IILED DBO. 30,1904.

PIERRE PLANTINGA, OI" CLEVELAND, OHIO.

APPARATUS FOR MANUFACTURING WATER-GAS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July 7, 1908.

Application filed December 30, 1904. Serial No. 238,963.

To all whom it may concern: Be it known that l, lmnnn PLANTINGA, a citizen of the United States, resident of Cleveland, county of Cuyahoga, and State of Ohio, have invented a new and useful linrovement in A paratus for Manufacturing Vater-Gas, of which the following is a specification, the principle of the invention being 7 herein explained and the best mode in which I have contemplated applying that principle so as to distinguish it from other inventions.

' My invention relates to apparatus for manufacturing illuminating water-gas, its object beingto effect certain economical improvements in the apparatus at present in general use for said purpose.

Said invention conslsts of means hereinafter fully described and particularly set forth in the claims.

The annexed drawing and the following deseri tion set forth in detail certain means embo ying the invention, such disclosed means constituting but one of various mechanical forms in which the principle of the invention maybe used. I

In said annexed drawing :The figure represents a vertical axial section of an apparams for manufacturing illuminating watergas, and embodying my invention.

In order to make clear the nature of my invention I shall first describe the nature of the process and apparatus heretofore and now generally used for this purpose. Such a paratus consistsffirst, of a combustioncfiamb'er A provided with a grate a and containing a combustible material such as coke or anthracite coal. This chamber is provided with a suitable charging opening a at the top, and at the bottom with a blast-pipe a. for the introduction of a current of air. The bottom of the chamber is also connected with a steam-pipe a by means of which a quantity of steam may be introduced into the chamber. The top of the chamber is connected, by means of a duct 0, wit-h'the top of a ca'rbureting chamber 1), the latter being provided with checkered brick-work d supported upon transverse arches d. The bottom of said chamber I) communicates, by means of a duct e with a chamber F provided with checkered brick-work f. Suitable outlots are provided at the top of the chamber F for the exit of the gases. The combustible material B having been ignited, a blast of air is introduced into the chamber A b means of the blast-pipe 0, The oxygen'of this air COITlbiIlOS with the carbon and forms carbonmonoxid and carbm1-dioxid. The gaseous product leaving the chamber A hence consist principally of a mixture of carbon-dioxid, carbon-monoxid and nitrogen and is generally known as producer gas. This producer gas passes from the duct iuto the top of the chamber 1). At this point it is mixed with air which is introduced through an opening (l shown in dotted lines, and located in the side of the upper part of said chamber D. This mixture of air and producer gas is ignited and burns and the products of this combustion pass through the checkered brick-work of the chambers I) and I and heat the same. lowed to progress until the desired temperature is reached the air is cut oil from duct (1 and steam is introduced into chamber A by means of a steam-pipe of; and in. passing through the burning coal or coke thereis formed hydrogen and carb nmonoxid as a result of the combination of the oxygen of the steam with the carbon of the fuel.-

The resulting product of the passage of the air and the steam' through the fuel is generally known as blue water-gas. This gas passes through the duct 0 and enters the upper portion of the chamber 1), the air being still cut off. In order to impart to this bluc water-gas the necessary illuminating qualities, such gas is now enriched with hydro-carbon such as a suitable oil. The first step in this enriching process is to mix the Water-gas with this oil by means of a suitable spray pipe' which projects into the upper portion of chamber D. This mixture of blue water-gas and hydro-carbon passing through the heated checkered brick-work of said chamber D forms as a result of such heating, a gas which Such heat having been alhas the necessary illuminating properties. 7

The further passage of this gas through the chamber F superheats same and fixes its characteristics.

In the foregoing process carried out by the above described means I have found a serious defect, which I have been enabled to over. come by means of the hereinafter described improvements. The said defect is the introduction of the air at the side of the carbureting chamber, such location of the opening d producing currents which effect an unequal heating of the checker-work d, and a consequent lack of uniformity in the oarbu retin etc in. the process. To avoid this de-- feet I have located the air inlets d in the top of the chamber so as to direct the current of air downwardly, and done ELWELY Witll the lateral air opening. form heating of the checker-Work is insured.

Another defect in the apparatus heretofore used arises from the fact that the heat generated during the combustion of the producer gas in the top of the chamber D burns off the end of the Oll spray-nozzle and neces sitates its constant repair. In order to overcome this detect, 1 have caused the oil-pipe D to have its terminal portion located in the o ening d and so be located Wholly within tie stream of air passing downwardly into the chamber from said opening, said oil pipe being stationary. By this arrangement the terminal portion of the spray-nozzle, Which is most susceptible to the deteriorating action of the heat in the chamber D is constantly kept comparatively cool by the passing air and suiiiciently so to prevent its burning off, during the combustion of the producer gas. During the carbureting process, the stream of air being cut otl, the flow of the oil keeps the nozzle cool and prevents its burning ofi.

It is, of course, understood that the form of the oil spray-nozzle, constituting the terminal portion of the oil-pipe D, is immaterial.

Any of the various forms of injectors or at' -om1zers commonly employed in this connection may be used, as will be understood by those skilled in the art. That to Which I desire to call'attention is the disposition of such nozzle, Whatever its form or character, within the inlet utilized ,to supply air to the carbureting chamber during the preliminary heat ing operation, by virtue of Which disposition the harmful effects on the nozzle of the intense heat developed in such chamber are entircly obviated.

Othermodes of applying the principle of my invention may be employed instead of the one explained, change being made as regards the means herein disclosed, rovided the means stated by any one of the 'olloWing By this change a uniclaims or the equivalent of such stated means be employed.

I therefore particularly point out and distinctlyelaim as my invention:-

1. In apparatus for manufacturing watergas, the combination of a carbureting chamber, aduct connected therewith for supply: ing'the same With air during the preliminary heating operation, and an oil spraying device for supplying said chamber with oil during the carbureting operation, said device being stationary and located Wholly Within said air-duct.

2v In apparatus for manufacturing Watergas, the combination of a carburetingachamher, a duct connected therewith for supplying the same with air during the preliminary heating operation, said air-duct entering the top of said chamber and being adapted tedirect astream'oi' air downwardly into the same, and an oil spraying device for supplying oil to said chamber during the carbureting operation, said device being stationary and located Wholly Within said air-duct.

,3. In apparatus for manufacturing water gas, the combination of a combustion chamber, a carbureting chamber, a passage leading from said combustion chamber to the upper part of said carbureting chamber, a duct connected with said carbureting chamber for supplying the same With air during the preliminary heating operation, said air-duct centrally entering the top of said chamber and being adapted. to direct a stream of air downwardly into the same, a second duet for supplying oil to said chamber during the carbureting operation, centrally disposed in said air duct and a stationary spraynozzle forming theterminus of said oil duct and Wholly located in said air-duct.

Signed by me, this 16th day of December PIERRE PLANTINGA. Attested by- E. M. NoRLrNe, A. E. Manner. 

